NERD NOTES

Last-minute gift giving gets easier

By ROY FURCHGOTT The New York Times

Published: Thursday, January 6, 2011 at 1:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 7:06 p.m.

You know that uncomfortable moment when someone you haven't bought a gift hands you one? Thanks to modern mobile phone technology, there is something of an answer for the really, really last-minute shopper.

Swagg, a new app, allows you to fire off a gift card by phone. So when you get that unexpected present, you have only to excuse yourself, slink off and use your phone to send a gift card from any of 250 brands, like Wet Seal, Crocs or American Apparel.

The gift card can be sent to a phone number or an e-mail address. Either way, the recipient gets a prompt to download the app or to go to the retailer's site to collect the gift.

But best of all, if you have made a poor choice, the card can be exchanged for any other in the Swagg system. You can even simply send a sum of money valid for the card of the recipient's choice.

Swagg is so loaded with gift-giving (and getting) features, it almost qualifies as a gift itself.

<p>You know that uncomfortable moment when someone you haven't bought a gift hands you one? Thanks to modern mobile phone technology, there is something of an answer for the really, really last-minute shopper.</p><p>Swagg, a new app, allows you to fire off a gift card by phone. So when you get that unexpected present, you have only to excuse yourself, slink off and use your phone to send a gift card from any of 250 brands, like Wet Seal, Crocs or American Apparel.</p><p>The gift card can be sent to a phone number or an e-mail address. Either way, the recipient gets a prompt to download the app or to go to the retailer's site to collect the gift.</p><p>But best of all, if you have made a poor choice, the card can be exchanged for any other in the Swagg system. You can even simply send a sum of money valid for the card of the recipient's choice.</p><p>Swagg is so loaded with gift-giving (and getting) features, it almost qualifies as a gift itself.</p>